Aikikai Aikido in Brighton

Brighton Aikikai

1970–2026

Thank you for your interest in training with us. Brighton Aikikai is now permanently closed. Our friends still practise at South Devon Aikikai, Cyprus Aikikai, Kolbermoor Aikido, and of course in many other places flung far and wide.

Our History

1970–1986

Sussex University Aikido Club

One person in a white keikogi thrown by another in a dark jacket, on the grass in a park.

The club began in 1970, when Norio Tao arrived at Sussex on an exchange scholarship. He held a third dan, given to him by O'Sensei. Danny Gunn later led the training and drew the club towards Seigo Yamaguchi, inviting Kenjiro Kimura from Japan to teach. When Gunn left in the early 1980s, Rick Smaridge and Nik Doyle took the class.

1987–1996

The Brighton Aikikai

Rick Smaridge kneeling in a keikogi beside a student in a wooden training hall.

In 1987 Rick Smaridge, a Sussex Full Blue, made the practice his work. He joined the university club with the Brighton Polytechnic club, opened new venues, and ran sixteen classes a week. Through Pascal Durchon he met Christian Tissier in Paris, and began travelling there to train.

1997–2011

Brighton and beyond

Phil Rozier seated in a keikogi, demonstrating a wrist hold while other students train behind him.

Rick moved to Devon in 1997 and left Brighton with Jeff Balmer and Mark Hale. Phil Rozier joined in 1998 and took a lead from 2001, training in Paris almost every month. From 2004 he and Nik Doyle (now Kolbermoor Aikido) ran the club together.

2012–2026

The club's teachers

Two people in white keikogi practising a pin on the grass in front of the Royal Pavilion.

In 2012 Nik Doyle moved to Germany, and Phil Rozier stepped back from regular teaching. Amyas Gilbert, Jack Tyrrell, Jonathan Harris, Marco Cortese, and Conan Theobald ran the club. Phil also set up Crawley Aikikai with Jeff and Frank, which ran for a few years. Brighton, South Devon, and Cyprus Aikikai kept practising the same Aikikai tradition.

Continued Online Presence

Many of the films made by the club over the years are still on our old YouTube channel, Brighton Aikikai. Our old Facebook page is still up at: facebook.com/BrightonAikikai

The club taught principles of Aikikai Aikido with guidance from Christian Tissier Shihan. The films below are of seminars hosted by Brighton Aikikai, edited by the club and offered for whoever would find them helpful.

Principles of Engagement

The films can be watched as a YouTube playlist or on Dailymotion. The whole bundle can be downloaded from Dropbox (2.95 GB). It includes the six films and the 2012 highlights, in HD and SD, with subtitles, playlists, cover art, and the poster for the 2014 seminar. It may be shared under a CC Attribution license.

With kind thanks to Christian Tissier for his continued support.

You can still find former club members training with Tissier Shihan and his students at any number of seminars across Europe and the world. We hope to train with you at one!